Hidden True Crime - Mistress Reveals CHILLING Details While On The Stand | James Craig Day 6 Recap

Episode Date: July 23, 2025

It’s the moment many all been waiting for in this trial— a chance to get more insight into what happened leading up to Angie's death- James Craig’s mistress, Karin Cain, testifies. From secret r...endezvous to cryptic texts, her time on the stand pulls back the curtain on the affair at the center of this murder case. About Hidden True Crime: What started as a simple conversation at their dinner table became a captivating podcast. Join the dynamic duo of Dr. John Matthias, a criminal psychologist, and Lauren Matthias, an investigative journalist, as they delve into the psychological facets of unthinkable crimes every week. Their unique perspectives and in-depth analysis offer a fresh take on true crime storytelling. Thank you for your support through sponsorships, subscribing, listening, and becoming a Patreon member at Patreon.com/HiddenTrueCrime Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Starting point is 00:01:53 I swear I'm in a different state almost every day this week. So I am actually in Idaho right now. We're going to cover everything you need to know about the James Craig trial after following along on WebEx as media. And let me tell you, there's a lot to cover. Karen Kane took the stand today. Karen Kane, the alleged mistress, emotional affair, other woman, whatever you want to call it.
Starting point is 00:02:21 That happened today. And honestly, it was sad when she took the stand. But we will get to that. She was not the first witness on the stand, but stay with me because it wasn't a very emotional testimony. Bye. Miss King. The first up on the stand was Dr. Mark Simon. Dr. Simon is no ordinary ER doctor.
Starting point is 00:02:47 He's trained in both emergency medicine and toxicology. And in March of 2023, he was working at the University of Colorado Hospital and also doing a toxicology fellowship. at the Rocky Mountain Poison Center, one of the leading places for poison research and response. He explained that toxicology is the study of how substances, anything from over-the-counter meds to full-blown poisons, affect the human body. And Dr. Simon knows that filled well. In 2023, he was in his first year fellowship, and part of his job was handling calls to poison control.
Starting point is 00:03:21 He explained that whenever anyone calls poison control, that call gets routed to the nearest center. and there a poison specialist usually picks up, but if things seem especially serious or complicated, they call in the doctor like Dr. Simon. Dr. Simon testified that hospitals don't just wait around for someone to call poison control though. They have direct lines to medical toxicologists, and on March 15th, 2023, one of those calls went straight to him. That day he was working from home, taking poison control calls like usual, and one call was about a patient named Angela. Craig. The situation was serious enough that Dr. Simon did not stay on the phone. He went straight
Starting point is 00:04:03 into the hospital. When he arrived that afternoon, Angela was already in the ICU. She was on a ventilator, completely unresponsive. She wasn't talking. She couldn't even interact. Dr. Simon examined her, spoke with the other doctors and nurses and began piecing things together. His job was to consider all possible substances that could have caused her condition, but one potential exposure came up almost immediately, potassium cyanide. He knew how Angela had presented in the ER, how her symptoms had evolved, and how fast she'd gone downhill. What she experienced was what's called an acute decompensation, a rapid physical decline. The prosecution then brought up Exhibit 132, part of Angela Craig's medical records. In his notes, Dr. Simon had written that around
Starting point is 00:04:49 2 p.m. Angela suddenly took a sharp turn for the worse. Her condition just crashed. He said he was able to make an educated guess about what might be going on, not a full diagnosis yet, but something to work with. Follow-up testing would be needed to confirm, and at that point, Angela was severely ill, and to Dr. Simon, cyanide was absolutely on the list of possibilities, especially with what he'd been told. He said that even without any outside chatter or rumors, her symptoms already looked like textbook signs of cyanide poisoning. But the fact that people were already whispering about cyanide, that raised even more redfell. flags. So Dr. Simon asked the medical team to run some specific labs, including tests for cyanide concentration in her blood, along with other substances that can cause similar symptoms. Angela's presentation lined up with cyanide poisoning, but he could not say with 100% certainty
Starting point is 00:05:44 until the test came back. And here's where it gets technical, but important. So take a listen. Dr. Simon explained that cyanide is what's called an electron transport. change in chain inhibitor. Basically, every cell in our body has microchondria, often called the powerhouse of cells. That's where your body makes energy. And when cyanide enters the system, it shuts that process down. It's like pulling up the train tracks while the train is still speeding along. Everything comes to a halt. The body scrambles to find other far less efficient ways to keep going, but it's not enough. And patients get critically sick fast. So another crucial detail is that regular hospital labs don't test for cyanide. It's just simply not part of the standard
Starting point is 00:06:37 procedure. So clearly, it's not part of the even standard toxicology screening. You need specialized testing for that, and it takes time. Meanwhile, Angela's doctors were panicking. Over the phone, someone from the hospital asked Dr. Simon, should they give the cyanide antidote right away? His answer, yes. It was absolutely appropriate to try. Just try. But he didn't just sit back. He jumped in his car and headed straight to the hospital. It took him about 15 minutes to get there. And just as he walked into Angela's room, a nurse was coming into carrying an antidote. Hydro. Hydro? Let's see if I can do this. I practice this, by the way, guys. Hydroxo, co. balaamining. Balamine. Balamine. Let's try it again. Hydroxychicobolamine. Did I get it right? That's the antidote. That drug is the go-to-treatment for cyanide poisoning. Whether I
Starting point is 00:07:37 butchered it or not, that's it. And what it does is bind to the cyanide in the body, detoxifying it, so cells can start producing energy again, giving basically the body a fighting chance to recover. Timing is everything with cyanide. The earlier you get the antidote into the system, the less damage it can cause. Every minute counts. Dr. Simon said that in a perfect world, if they know a patient has cyanide poisoning, they'd give the antidote immediately. But this wasn't a perfect world.
Starting point is 00:08:10 When Angela Craig arrived at the ER, no one knew what was wrong. Her condition was alarming, but the story surrounding it did not quite add up. nothing about it made sense. If this was cyanide, it had to have been given to her very recently, right before her symptoms started. So naturally the question became, how did she get exposed and where? Could it have happened at the hospital? Dr. Simon explained that cyanide does not take long to do its damage. It acts fast. And the speed depends on how much is taken in and how it gets into the body. inhalation or intravenous exposure, meaning directly into the bloodstream, can cause a rapid and deadly decline. Dr. Simon said that cyanide is a white crystalline powder, something that can easily be dissolved in a liquid.
Starting point is 00:08:59 The antidote was given, but by that point, Angela, as we know, was already very sick. Dr. Simon said the effect was minimal. There were some small signs of improvement, like a slight bump in her blood pressure, but nothing close to a turnaround. In fact, one of the neurosurgeons treating Angela told the team that her brain pressure was in the 60s. And that number shocked everyone. They said they had never seen a patient survive pressure that high. So at that point, even with the antidote, it was unlikely she was going to make it. During his evaluation, Dr. Simon wasn't initially asked to consider other toxins like tetrahydrosline, arsenic, or oleander.
Starting point is 00:09:36 But he is trained to recognize and advise on all of those. He said that arsenic is a metal and it can appear in different forms. The symptoms can vary but often include severe gastrointestinal distress, vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, confusion, even in altered mental state. It can also affect the cardiovascular system. The key factor is how someone is exposed, whether it's in acute exposure, meaning they were hit with a large dose all at once or chronic exposure over time. Either way, arsenic is dangerous and can be deadly. Dr. Simon also explained some of the other substances that can cause serious harm, the ones investigators would later consider.
Starting point is 00:10:19 One of them? Tetrahydrosoling, a chemical commonly found in over-the-counter eyedrops like vizene. It's a clear liquid, easy to miss. But if swallowed in high doses, it can be incredibly dangerous. It depresses the central nervous system, meaning it slows down brain activity. People can become sedent. even slip into a coma. It can drop your heart rate, lower your blood pressure, and in high enough amounts, it can kill. Then there's oleander, a plant that's beautiful, beautiful but deadly.
Starting point is 00:10:51 The toxic compound inside it is called oleandrine, and when ingested, it can cause confusion, low heart rate, low blood pressure, gastrointestinal distress, all the classic signs of poisoning. Even small amounts can have powerful, sometimes fatal effects. Simon said that when mixing multiple toxins like cyanide, arsenic, and tetrahydrogyzolene, this can make things even worse. These substances can interact in the body, increasing the toxicity. And from a medical standpoint, that kind of mix makes it much harder to diagnose and treat. Dr. Simon wasn't consulted specifically about arsenic in Angela's case. He hadn't even heard that it was being considered at that point. But he was asked to think broadly to consider all
Starting point is 00:11:33 possible toxins. In his expert opinion, Angelus symptoms didn't quite match with classic arsenic poisoning, not a solid match, or even tetrahydrozzaline on its own. What she was experiencing looked much more like what? Cyanide. During cross-examination, the defense zeroed in on something from March 15th. They pointed out that according to records she had arrived with her husband James Craig, and at first glance, it didn't seem like she was in serious distress. They asked Dr. Simon, would it surprise you to hear that some medical professionals
Starting point is 00:12:05 described Angela as very ill and out of it and she arrived out of it. That's what they asked. Dr. Simon stood by his notes. In them, he had written that Angela didn't initially appear significantly ill. In fact, he said, no one had told him that she looked that bad when she first came in. There was no mention from the team that she seemed out of it. But then he clarified, he had written that she was some nolent and letharthard. meaning sleepy and slow to respond. So yes, she was showing signs of something being wrong, but she was still alert.
Starting point is 00:12:44 As for the term out of it, Dr. Simon pushed back little, saying that being ill and being out of it aren't necessarily the same thing. They're vague, and a medical term symptoms need to be a lot more specific than that. Dr. Simon also revealed something key. He was told that cyanide had been delivered
Starting point is 00:13:02 to the dental office for Angela used to work. And next, the defense asked him about tetrahydrosolene, again, vizene eye drops or other eye drops as well. He confirmed that it can be deadly in high doses, but admitted he didn't know exactly how much it would take to cause death in a person. As for cyanide, the way it affects the body and how quickly depends on several factors, how it enters the system, how it is taken, and what form it's in. Cyanide can be inhaled, swallowed, or injected. A small dose might cause mild or delays symptoms, while a large dose can bring on rapid, severe, even fatal illness. Based on his exam of Angela,
Starting point is 00:13:39 Dr. Simon couldn't say for sure even then whether cyanide was the culprit. And even if it was, there was no way to tell exactly when she was exposed or how much she received. He could make educated guesses, maybe spot some patterns, but he couldn't determine the dose with certainty.
Starting point is 00:13:57 And perhaps, most crucially, Dr. Simon couldn't say how it got into her body. Whether Angela took it voluntarily, or whether someone else gave it to her, he couldn't say. There was no redirect or juror questions for Dr. Simon. Next on the stand, we circled back to Dr. Lear from yesterday for cross-examination. If you recall, we were not done with Dr. Lear. He still had to do cross-examination, but because of some scheduling
Starting point is 00:14:23 conflicts, he couldn't start in the morning. So after this witness, now we've jumped back to Dr. Lear to conclude yesterday for cross-examination. So the defense started by asking how blood samples are handled between different hospitals. This is how they started with Dr. Lear on cross-exam. And Dr. Lear admitted that she doesn't personally oversee that part. She relies on her staff to collect the samples and bring them to her. Once she has them, the specimens get sent out to a toxicology lab. That's a standard part of post-mortem work running toxicology screens that helped determine how someone died and what was happening inside the body at that time. In this case, because there was already suspicion of poisoning,
Starting point is 00:15:05 Dr. Lear reached out to a toxicologist, Dr. Brower. The two began consulting over phone calls and emails trying to figure out the right testing strategy. They discussed which samples to test, which substances to look for, and how many times to run each test, all while keeping their eye on their budget. Testing isn't just about science. It's also about logistics. They also talked about those colored caps you see on blood collection tube, something that might seem trivial, but actually matters a lot. Each color represents a different type of chemical
Starting point is 00:15:38 inside the tube. Some contain anti-cogulants to prevent the clotting, and others are designed to separate the serum or plasma in the blood. For example, a green top tube usually contains an anti-clotting, and according to Dr. Lear, that color system is pretty universal across labs. Details like these, the type of tube, the chemical inside, the way it's stored, they all play a role in the accuracy of testing. And ultimately, in figuring out what really happened. Dr. Lear didn't bother checking with the university hospital or Parker Adventist about what their tube topers meant, because again, those colors are usually universal across labs. But she was clear about one thing. The cause of Angela's death was
Starting point is 00:16:24 poisoning. That's what she was sure of. Blood tests from earlier showed arsenic had been in Angela's system at some point, but Dr. Lear didn't believe she was given more arsenic between those tests. What they saw fit was how arsenic breaks down in the body. It has a long half-life, meaning it sticks around for a while as it slowly clears out. On the topic of tetrahydrosline, that chemical found in some eyedrops, there's not a lot of scientific literature on fatal doses in adults. Most research focuses on therapeutic or safe doses and what's lethal for kids doesn't always apply to grown adults. Dr. Lear explained that she has access to medical records and databases, but those records only include what hospitals and doctors entertain.
Starting point is 00:17:14 She testified that if someone tells their spouse, they're thinking about suicide, that private conversation won't show up anywhere in the medical database. It's an overdose but is taken to the hospital. and treated that might be recorded, but personal conversations or unreported struggle stay behind closed doors. And because of that, Dr. Lear said her investigation was limited by the information she was given. She never consulted a psychiatrist
Starting point is 00:17:40 about Angela's mental health, and frankly, she wouldn't normally do that in any case. She also noted that James alleged Angela had taken benzodiazepines and opioids back in January of 2023, but there were no medical records to back. got it. Before I switched to Wealthfront, my APY was probably 0.1. Like, it was a joke. I was literally getting pennies. Once I switched to chiching, with a Wealthfront cash account, earn up to 4.2% APY on your
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Starting point is 00:19:48 Cash account offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC, member Finra, IPC, not a bank. Instant withdrawal subject to conditions, fees and eligibility requirements may apply to certain checking features of the cash account. It's press, Dr. Lear saying, but you do have information that Angela took benzos and opiates back in January, right? She responded very carefully, in quotes. I have information that she may have. That's just what James Craig said, end quote. That's important. So we know that because of James Craig. On redirect, the state circled back to the topic of resources and budget constraints. They asked Dr. Deleer about her email exchanges with Dr. Brower. Part of those messages
Starting point is 00:20:26 were even shared with the lawyers. She said she didn't specifically recall discussing budget, but acknowledged it might have come up. She said, you can't just test 60 different samples for the exact same thing. That doesn't mean she won't test for something. It just means she has to be strategic about which vials to test, picking the ones for the best quality samples or the largest amounts. And then the defense asked about what kind of information from therapists or spouses makes it into medical records or state databases. Dr. Lear explained that personal info from spouses or therapists generally doesn't make it into those records. And as for the reports of benzodiazepine and opioid use in January, that info came straight from James.
Starting point is 00:21:05 If someone is attempting self-harm, but it wasn't reported, nobody else would know about it. Those private movements often stay hidden from the medical record. Dr. Lear said that between March 9th and 15th, James was at the hospital while Angela was being treated. During that entire stretch, there was never any mention from James that Angela might be susceptible to self-harm. Not at the hospital staff, not in their text messages. No claims that she tried to get her hands on arsenic, cyanide, tetrahydrozylene, or that she'd been researching poisons like oleandrine. Nothing. What was in the text during that time was Angela asking, quote, what's wrong with me? Why am I so sick? That's what she was.
Starting point is 00:21:50 was asking. And then came a question from the jury. Always interesting to get a question from the jury, isn't it? Quote, even though we don't have a specific lot number to confirm a lethal dose of tetrahydrozolein, would you agree that the amount found in Angela's blood sample was highly elevated, far outside the normal range for an average person? End quote. The toxicologist responded, yes. Then came another, quote, off the top of your head, how many people have died from cyanide or tetrahydrosline outside of populations who are normally exposed to these chemicals? And quote. Dr. Lear said that she had seen three cyanide death, not including people who died in fires since fire victims often show elevated cyanide level. So those don't count. As for tetrahydrozzaline,
Starting point is 00:22:41 that chemical was only recently added to their toxicology panel. So she could not say how any deaths she'd seen from it. On redirect, the prosecution clarified a key point about tetrahydrosline. It's typically found in small over-the-counter products like eye drops. Most people only use a drop or two at a time. A full bottle of Izin contains about 0.01 micrograms of tetrahydrosline, but Angela's toxicology report showed 95 micrograms in her system. That's not just a little eye irritation. And while small traces of things like cyanide and arsenic can be found, and almost anyone, just from environmental exposure, like drinking water or eating seafood. The levels found in Angela were not from the environment. Absolutely not. They were consistent
Starting point is 00:23:25 with a large, intentional dose. But on follow-up, the defense pushed back. When you say administered, they said, that doesn't necessarily mean she took it herself, right? It could be voluntary or involuntary. Dr. Lear agreed, yes, that's correct. Antitohydrosline is not just an eyedrop. It can also be found in certain nasal sprays. Again, the answer was yes. If you recall, Angela had a recent sinus infection, so the defense may be trying to make a connection there. I don't know.
Starting point is 00:23:55 But the next on the stand was Dr. Natalie held, a pulmonary and critical care physician. She splits her work between working in the ICU and running an outpatient clinic for patients with chronic lung disease. She also plays a major role in education, leading the critical care curriculum at the University of Colorado. She teaches medical students, supervises fellows, and is triple board certified. Not once, not twice, triple, triple board certified.
Starting point is 00:24:23 Dr. Held explained that a patient can be on life support and still have brain function, or they may not. She said that brain death is very specific and it is an irreversible condition. It requires strict criteria to be met. The patient must have a devastating injury on imaging, no brain stem reflexes, no response to pain, and no ability to breathe. on their own. It's part of her job to assess brain death in ICU patients. She was part of Angela Craig's care team for four days. And on March 15th, Angela had a significant crash. We know this. Her condition
Starting point is 00:25:00 deteriorated rapidly right after her husband was in the room. By March 18th, Dr. Held and the team determined that Angela was brain dead. The prosecution asked, why the delay in announcing that she was brain dead. Dr. Held explained that before making the determination, doctors have to rule out any reversible causes. They had to correct Angela's electrolyte levels, ensure she wasn't under the effects of sedating medications, and stabilized other abnormalities. Only after all of that, when the medical team confirmed she had extremely high intracranial pressure and no signs of brain activity was the diagnosis of brain death made. On cross-examination, the defense focused on the criteria for declaring someone brain dead.
Starting point is 00:25:45 Dr. Held walked them through it again, devastating brain injury, no reflexes, no response to pain, no spontaneous breathing. Before all of those boxes were officially checked, Dr. Held said a base on Angela's symptoms and clinical pitcher, she suspected early on that Angela was likely progressing toward brain death, even before the formal criteria was fully met. So sad. Rest and peace, Angela. Next on the stand was Dr. Brewer, a forensic chemist and examiner with the FBI for more than 18 years. A forensic chemist and examiner with the FBI for more than 18 years.
Starting point is 00:26:26 And before becoming an examiner, Dr. Brewer, he worked as a forensic chemist. And as a chemist, he only did the testing and stopped short of interpreting the results. It passed the data along to an examiner who was responsible for drawing conclusions and testifying in court. Now, he's that person. Dr. Brewer was tasked with analyzing several items related to the James Craig investigation. He was shown multiple exhibits. So, item one. He was shown a dark colored plastic bottle with a trace amount of an unknown substance.
Starting point is 00:26:57 Number two. Item two. A clear blender bottle with a semi-solid liquid inside. Item three, a yogurt-like substance. His job was to test them for the presence of cyanide. and arsenic. First, he took samples from each item and placed them into test tubes. He ran a series of chemical tests, but no cyanide or arsenic was detected in the first test. Later, investigators requested additional testing for tetrahydrosolene. So to test for that,
Starting point is 00:27:29 Dr. Brewer used a technique called direct analysis with time of flight mass spectrometry, a method that measures the mass to change ratio of particles to identify chemical substances. Tetrhydrohaziline wasn't detected in the first item, the dark bottle, but he noted that washing items like in a stinger dishwasher can wipe out trace evidence. However, it was found in the semi-solid substance, the yogurt-like material in item three. Yeah, tetrahydrosoling found in the yogurt-like material. Dr. Brewer said that he was also given samples from two syringes, one small, one large. Liquid was recovered from both, but chemical testing revealed no traces of cyanide, arsenic, or tetrahydrosoline in either syringe. The defense asked about tetrahydrozylene,
Starting point is 00:28:24 which was found in the yogurt substance. He asked if he could tell how much tetrahydrozylene was present. He said no, only that it was present. He could not determine how it got there, when it got there, who put it in there? He explained that the FBI lab is capable of doing fingerprint analysis, DNA testing, and toxicology. But in this case, none of those tests were requested. Not on the bottle, not on the syringes. Dr. Brewer added that when the FBI assists with the non-FBI case or any non-FBI case, it's usually up to the local department to do those tests. And then came a question from the jury. They had a lot of questions today. And their question was, quote, was there a request to test for oleander in any of the items?
Starting point is 00:29:11 I love this question. Dr. Brewer's answer? No. And next up was the highly anticipated witness, Dr. Karen Kane. Dr. Kane, by the way, sorry, grabbing a little bit of water. Dr. Karen Kane has blonde hair, was wearing a blue shirt and she seemed very nervous. I just want to say she sort of spoke with a, uh, with like anxiety with just a definitely a nervous tongue. My heart went out to her, actually. Really did. So Dr. Karen Kane is an orthodontist
Starting point is 00:29:54 with a small, close-knit practice in Marble Falls, Texas, a quiet town just west of Austin. She works three days a week alongside her five-person team and has been rooted in that community. for over 21 years. Dr. Kane is currently single. She explained that her divorce after 27 years of marriage was long and drawn out, finally finalized in January of 2024. She has two kids, both grown, now 21 and 23. Then she revealed how she crossed path with James Craig.
Starting point is 00:30:28 It was February of 2023. She was attending a dental practice in Las Vegas at the Bellagio Hotel. Dr. Kane admitted that she was nervous going to the conference dinner alone. After being married, of course, for nearly three decades, she hadn't dated anyone since. She was trying to rediscover who she was, how to move through the world as a single woman, an independent single woman with a flourishing practice. And this trip to Vegas was part of that. She was standing in line for the conference dinner when James Craig turned around and casually asked her,
Starting point is 00:31:04 do we need jackets? Karen explained that part of the event was going to be outdoors. That small moment opened the door. They struck up a conversation talking about everything from divorce, faith, and kids. James told her he was going through something similar. Their talk quickly grew deep and vulnerable. Karen said it felt honest. She believed what he was saying.
Starting point is 00:31:27 The conference lasted from February 22nd to the 25th. And over those few days, things between. them became intent. Karen said she felt safe with James, seeing, heard, understood. He was extremely comforting and that more than anything drew her in. As she shared this with the court, Karen began to cry. It was heartbreaking, honestly, to listen to her. My heart, empathy, goes out to her. Karen said that at some point during that Las Vegas conference, she invited James to her room. They made out. But the next day, she pulled back. It had all felt like too much, too fast. But James didn't let it go. He pursued her and said, I feel like you're holding back.
Starting point is 00:32:16 Are you okay? And that is when Karen told James, I have boundaries. I am not going to sleep with someone unless I know that they are my forever person. She opened up about how she hadn't felt safe in her marriage. And she said James was kind and he was responsible. and understood. He said he understood that physical intimacy carried weight. He agreed with her values. And after that, their relationship continued over the phone. They began texting back and forth constantly. The messages were full of talk about faith, about desire, and about physical boundaries. James told her that he had done deep studies on the miracles of Jesus Christ and had even written a 1,000-page paper on that topic. Karen said she was praying for him, for his kids, even for Angela, who she thought James was in the process of divorcing.
Starting point is 00:33:07 James painted a picture of a marriage that he said was already over. He said he was no longer emotionally connected to Angela, that he had been living in an apartment for months, but would go back to the house to help take care of the kids. When she wasn't home, Karen said that he had be on his AirPods while praying with his daughters. So she would be listening to this. And she was able to hear their interactions and thought that he had this incredible gift of making people feel seen, understood and safe, including his own younger daughters as he prayed with them, allowing her to listen in. She said that she believed him when he said that he and Angela were sleeping in separate rooms while he was in the family home.
Starting point is 00:33:57 They were in separate bedroom, separate rooms. And by then, Karen had been, been single for four years. She said she thought Angela was foolish for letting James go. It all felt right. He seemed so honest and vulnerable. She trusted him. And then the state then hopped ahead to March 19th, 2023. Karen was leaving Denver after spending time with James and was asked to meet with Detective Olson. She handed over her cell phone. Olson looked through the text between her and James. There were over 4,000 messages. Olson took a video. scrolling through the threads. Karen told the court she'd reviewed her text messages with James in preparation for her testimony.
Starting point is 00:34:37 The messages were compiled into a thick binder, admitted into evidence as an exhibit. She recalled how things ended in Las Vegas, at least for that trip, before heading their separate ways. And she and James shared a ride to the airport. They had lunch together. Then they parted, each heading to their own gate. But Karen's flight was delayed so they had time for one last goodbye and another kiss. They boarded separate planes and almost immediately pick the conversation back up, texting again nonstop. Karen said she believed that James was flying to his family home. He told her that Angela was
Starting point is 00:35:11 going out of town and that he'd be staying with the girls to take care of them. He warned her that he might go dark from time to time while he was with them. And to Karen, that all made sense. He was a dad. He was attentive. He was thoughtful, spiritual, and present. At least that is what she believed. As the text was shown on the screen, Karen said that her dad's name is Jim. So she affectionately called James JT for James Tolliver because she associated the name James with her dad. So in her phone, it was JT. And in one message, she thanked him for accepting her and all of her complex needs.
Starting point is 00:35:51 And James replied, quote, You don't seem complex to me. You're unique, beautiful and deep. You need emotional connection. to be vulnerable. I will try to be the man for you." End quote. Throughout their conversations, James talked a lot about wanting to be the man for her. He was encouraging, attentive, always reflecting on her needs. Basically, he was a smooth talker. Let's sum it up that way. The prosecution skipped through some pages in that thick binder of text, then read aloud a message
Starting point is 00:36:23 from James. I feel a great need for repentance after the last two nights. but also for not being honest with you about how I really felt." And quote. Karen explained this was about the boundary they had set to slow things down to wait until they were truly committed before becoming intimate. They didn't talk much about Angela, except when Karen asked James what happened with their relationship. He said Angela wasn't giving her whole self,
Starting point is 00:36:50 wasn't being vulnerable, and that's what he needed. He compared how he felt with Angela to how he felt with Karen, saying she was much more open with him. They were just beginning their relationship. Karen said that James was the first man. She had a one-on-one deep conversation with in 30 years besides her ex-husband. She doesn't connect casually with people, especially men. But with James, she thought there was real potential, a long-term relationship.
Starting point is 00:37:20 And she had the sense that James was feeling that too. Skipping through more pages in the text messages, the prosecutor read, James's words allowed. Quote, I know I can be all right with you, but Karen, I don't want to be. The problem is, I might be completely in love with you after just three days, and that's nuts, end quote. Well, Karen testified that hearing this made her feel amazing. This is exactly what she'd been hoping for, something real, something that just fell into her lap without the usual dating drama. Dating is hard. She talked about their spiritual and emotional connection, how well they communicated. great at verbal communication in line with her love language.
Starting point is 00:38:03 Communication. And in my opinion, I'm just going to say this for a second. Let's just stop for a second. This, these texts sound like love bombing to me. This is what love bombing is. Nobody finds themselves with a partner. I'm going to talk emotional abuse one more time because this conversation needs a discussion on emotional abuse.
Starting point is 00:38:24 But people don't get into emotional abuse. abusive relationships from someone being emotionally abusive all the time and hurtful. They get into these relationships because they feel loved and heard and they feel like someone is madly and deeply in love with them and they are kind and they shower them with compliments and they make them feel whole and they make them feel seen and they make them feel like they are understood for the first time. That is how someone gets into an emotional, abusive relationship, not from cruelty, but from kindness. And it's called love bombing. Read more about it. But this to me is what James is doing to Karen Kane. So, skipping ahead in the
Starting point is 00:39:14 text, James wrote, quote, I've never had anyone like you before, end quote. And that message made Karen feel really good, like she was something special. They talked about her possibility. possibly coming to Denver to see him. But James cautioned, don't book a flight just yet. If you come now, I might not be able to hold the boundary. And I need to gain control. But I miss you like crazy. I'm conflicted, end quote.
Starting point is 00:39:42 Karen was ready to visit the following weekend, but James asked her to hold off for now, because apparently he was so into her that he wouldn't be able to contain himself. Then on February 27th, James sent a message, quote, unfortunately, I've put off writing the list of attributes about you that endear me for so long. I've fallen in love with you so deeply.
Starting point is 00:40:05 The list is practically endless, but I'll try. And then he went on to list everything he loved about her. At the end, he added, quote, so many things I can't write now. I'm going to try to get through this day without being too turned on the whole time. And from there, their text grew flirtatious and eventually turned into sexting. On February 27th, James was still adding to the list of things he loved about Karen. He wrote, quote, I hope you know that I love you, not because of your brains or beauty or generosity, but my eternal love, may heaven let us bloom together forever, end quote.
Starting point is 00:40:48 And then came the court's lunch break. But right after lunch, the prosecution dove back into the text. The state read more of James's messages. And in one he wrote, quote, Ugh, fighting with Angie all afternoon, she got into our bank account and saw a charge at California Pitchie Kitchen. And what she saw was a charge enough for two people. She doesn't understand what being separated means and I can do what I want,
Starting point is 00:41:16 and quote. So then Karen explained, yes, that she and James had gone to, California Pizza Kitchen at the airport before their flight. And she replied to James with this text, quote, oh no, I was afraid I'd be mixed in somehow. It's maybe so soon. Maybe she's not on the same page as you, end quote. But James tried to reassure her.
Starting point is 00:41:40 He made it sound like the divorce was a done deal. He said that they had even talked to the kids about the divorce. Karen wondered that if Angie was still fighting, Maybe it was because she didn't want the divorce as much as James did. And over the next few days, James worked to put Karen at ease, that the divorce really was happening. He wrote, quote, thank you for being so supportive. I'm glad she's leaving tomorrow.
Starting point is 00:42:06 Maybe she'll decide to stay gone for a long time. It will be hard with the kids, but it will make my life easier, end quote. This was in regard to Angie going to see her sister Tony in Utah. And now looking back, Karen said she didn't see any red flags. Nothing about James made her think that he was lying. She admitted that maybe that makes me naive or silly, she said on the stand. But even after everything that happened, she still didn't see anything that set off alarms. And then on February 28th, James wrote, quote,
Starting point is 00:42:41 I came home and the lights in the master bedroom were on. I thought she'd be packing, but she wasn't there. No sign of her. I went upstairs and found her half asleep in the guest room watching a show on her phone. I asked if I could talk to her. I sat on the bed and told her, I really do want to divorce you. We're not going back.
Starting point is 00:43:00 This is for real. She just looked off and said, okay, end quote. And on February 28th, Karen wrote, quote, I'm so sorry. I wish this wasn't our reality. I wish we had met longer after you were divorced.
Starting point is 00:43:17 I don't want to watch her. heartbreak just so you can find joy. Yuck. I actually think that this text shows the compassion that empathy that Karen actually had for Angie. She said, I don't want to watch her heartbreak just so I can find joy. Yuck. That's empathy.
Starting point is 00:43:40 As Karen shared this testimony, she began to cry again and she actually had to ask for a Kleenex at this moment. She testified that at this point, she was confiding in her friends about this new love with James, and later that same day, she wrote again, well, I guess I just need more dialogue here to understand. It sounds heartbreaking, but I don't really know much at all about y'all's relationship. I'd love to open this conversation up more when we're together. For now, I'm glad you got the peace you needed, and I hope she does too, end quote. So James kept assuring Karen that the divorce was real, that it was happening. On March 4th,
Starting point is 00:44:18 he wrote, quote, when you get time, I'd love to hear more about what you think happened between you and Jason. And if he used to adore you, what changed at what point in the relationship did he turn? End quote. Karen said she appreciated the question and made her feel safe like she could open up and she did. She talked to James about her ex-husband, her past and her pain. By then, she'd already purchased plane tickets to see James. The original plan was to visit from March 8th to the 10th, but things changed. She tested. that the change might have been because her kids were coming home for spring break, but it also seemed like James had a lot going on.
Starting point is 00:44:55 Angela was getting sick. Things at his house were getting complicated. So Karen changed her flight. The new dates were for March 16th to the 20th. At one point, James told Karen he felt sad that Angela was coming back from her trip to Utah. He said he didn't want to return to the apartment. He was upset about leaving the kids behind at the house. And for Karen, that kind of message only deepened her trust.
Starting point is 00:45:22 It made her believe even more that James was telling the truth that he really was separated and emotionally detached from his wife. And then the state asked Karen directly. Here's what they asked her. Would you have engaged in a relationship with James if you knew he was still living at home with his wife? It's a great question. But before Karen could answer, there was an objection. the attorneys approached the bench. The judge clarified for the jury that they were hearing Karen's testimony to help determine
Starting point is 00:45:54 James' potential motive and intent. And the jury was not to speculate about anything else. Objection sustained. Moving on, Karen said that during this time, their connection deepened not just through text, but through phone and FaceTime calls. They talked about their relationship and about the future. There were long conversations about his divorce, the logistics of moving between the apartment and the house, where the kids would live. How would custody play out? Karen was clear about
Starting point is 00:46:22 her boundaries. She told James, if you're being unfaithful, if you're sleeping with someone else or juggling more than one relationship, I'm out. James admitted that he had had an affair on Angie in the past. Karen made it clear. That was a line she would not tolerate. But she also told the court she appreciated his honesty. At the time, it made her trust him more. The prosecution continued going through their messages. On March 5th, James wrote, Thank you so much for supporting me and loving me. I've never felt so loved, despite my weaknesses. I've never had anyone embrace them. I've always tried to bury that. End quote. To Karen, it felt raw and sincere. On March 6th, James told Karen that Angela was having some health
Starting point is 00:47:05 issues. He said he took her to the emergency room, but the doctors couldn't find anything wrong. The MRI was clean. And in text, he wrote, Angela is frustrated. And thinks I did this to her. There was a drug panel done and it came back negative. I do not want to be in a relationship where that's the default position so hurtful. Just for the record, I will never drug you in case that's something you were ever worried about. Sorry to unload that on you, end quote. Okay, let's unpack that.
Starting point is 00:47:36 That text right there, that would be called a red flag. That's also called projection. and it's called you spot it, you got it. Projection is what it's actually officially called. You spot it, you got it is what I call projection. Who thinks that they have to reassure someone that they're dating, that they would never drug them? If it's never occurred to you, you would never say it.
Starting point is 00:48:00 That's where you spot it, you got it comes in. If you are thinking about this, if this is on your mind, you're probably going to say it. It is such a bizarre thing to say. By the way, new love interest of mine, I would never drug you if that's something you're worried about. That's a red flag. You spot it, you got it.
Starting point is 00:48:25 James Craig had clearly thought it's called a tell, a projection. Karen Kane isn't worried about James Craig drugging her. James Craig is thinking that she might be because it's what he thinks about. Back to the testimony. me. That's just, what a text. What a towel. Later that day, he wrote, quote, I'm going to be so mad if she's doing this to herself, end quote. He told Karen that Angela had tried to take her own life on multiple occasions. He said that the doctors had to give her reversal medications just to keep her from dying. Even though Angela was in the hospital that night, he wrote to Karen, quote, tonight as I sit on my porch and look at
Starting point is 00:49:10 the celestial heavens, I realize it's a full moon. I looked at the stars and loved you all the deeper, and quote, it read like a poem, over the top, and incredibly cheesy. James told Karen that his daughter, Annabelle, was taking Angela to urgent care to get some tests done. Karen responded, quote, oh man, not good news, hoping for answers today. And James replied, thanks. I'm heading into the office now. I hope you have a great day. I have no idea. what's on my schedule. I love you so much. I'm going through an onslaught of accusations. How I must have poisoned Angela somehow. Here we go again. Atal. She keeps going on about this. And I don't know what to do. I need you in my life, someone who won't accuse me of ridiculous
Starting point is 00:49:59 things. Thank you for being here for me. I'm holding on to your love. And quote. Red flag. a tell. On March 9th, James wrote, quote, Back to Parker Adventist, same place I was at Monday. Apparently 9-1-1 was taking too long. Annabelle is taking her mom to the hospital, poor girl, and quote. Karen replied, are you doing okay? James responded, I am, I'm doing great.
Starting point is 00:50:30 Honestly, I'm so glad they're keeping her in the hospital. That way I don't have to take care of her. I mean, I would totally take care of you or any of my kids. It just feels too intimate with what we're going through. Does that make any sense? It feels nice to have that offloaded for one night. I'm terrible, end quote. So he calls himself terrible,
Starting point is 00:50:52 but only after saying how relieved he is to not be around Angela while she's in the hospital fighting for her life. And yet to Karen, he still sounded like a man in a hard situation, vulnerable, honest, urgent. In reality, it was cold. bold detachment. On March 15th, James at Karen, a long, emotionally heavy text, quote, can I share something without you feeling animosity towards her?
Starting point is 00:51:17 I just need someone who understands. She accused me of being the reason she's sick. That because I want to leave her, she's sick. Does this make me a bad person? She said it tonight. I honestly believe I gave it everything I had. I don't know if she was delirious. She made me feel less than, like a pervert for wanting sex.
Starting point is 00:51:38 I can be so intense and passionate. Maybe I should stop. Hide my true self because it's scary. I don't want you to feel objectified, especially since you're self-conscious about being enough for me, end quote. And then he hits her with this, quote, say the word, I'm yours, and quote. It was seductive, manipulative, very manipulative, vulnerable,
Starting point is 00:52:02 a man torn between guilt and passion, or so it seemed to Karen came. I'm just seeing red flags, but I get it. She's in it. And then the prosecution asked Karen about a song James wrote for her. It was called Enough. The song was about a woman who didn't feel like she was enough. Someone self-conscious, insecure, searching for validation. The prosecution wanted to bring the song in as evidence.
Starting point is 00:52:27 They said it was a firm declaration of love, but the defense pushed back. They argued it wasn't relevant. The jury was sent out while the attorneys made their case. The prosecutor told the judge, we don't plan to play it, but the jury should know how far he went. The defense argued, we already know he wrote a song.
Starting point is 00:52:44 We know what it's about. The lyrics don't add anything new. And after considering both sides, the judge, who I feel has been so extremely fair to both sides, the judge ruled the song stays out. The jury would hear about the song, but not the lyrics themselves. And the state moved on to read more texts from James to Karen.
Starting point is 00:53:04 He wrote, quote, The Lord has been speaking to me, telling me that with you is where I need to be. I'm just working on things, end quote. Okay, stop. That is such a red flag. That is such emotional, religious manipulation. I want to point these things out. There's so much to take from this case, from this daily trial.
Starting point is 00:53:27 So it was March 15th now. We know this day well now from trial, March 15th, the day Angela is declared brain dead that she crashes. Angela was taken back to the hospital, but this time James said it wasn't just another trip to the ER. He wrote Karen on this day, quote, I'm a mess. I'm divorcing a woman who is the mother of my children who seems to be trying her hardest to die, end quote. Karen responded, quote, I hope she makes a full recovery. But then James's next message made it seem. seemed like the recovery was unlikely. He wrote, quote, crash, intubated. Karen, no words. I love you.
Starting point is 00:54:09 And James, again, no brain activity. They want to do a CT scan, but she's too unstable. Pupil's unresponsive. This is a nightmare. They're doing dialysis because her acid is so high. Meds in case it's an infection, a lumbar tap, man, babe, I'm not going to like telling the girls. If this goes the way, I think it's going to go. End quote. Angela was slipping away and James was narrating it in real time to the woman he was supposedly falling in love with. And later that night, James texted Karen again, what's you doing tonight? Are you still planning on coming tomorrow?
Starting point is 00:54:44 I still want to have you come. I need you. If it won't be too awkward with you for you, I totally understand. And quote, like that's what he's thinking. Hey, by the way, you still coming? And then a little while later, he followed up with, quote, since you've mentioned that you aren't good at making decisions, I've decided. And you can tell me what you think. Hopefully they let us back into the house tomorrow. End quote. By then, Karen knew that the police had
Starting point is 00:55:13 already gone through the house after Angela's death. James went on laying out his plan. Quote, if we do get back in, that becomes headquarters for everything happening this weekend. My family and Angela's family will be here. If people need to stay at the apartment, they can't. I'd like to get you a room at the closest hotel to my house. And whenever I can, I'll skip away and see you. But I don't want to hide you. We'll say that you're a friend of mine who came to support me. Hanging around will be good for people to meet you.
Starting point is 00:55:43 Let me know if that works for you, or we can scrap it altogether, end quote. But later he added, quote, worst case scenario, they decide she hurt herself or that I did something to her. I don't know what all this looks like. This sucks. I just want to grieve with my kids." And quote. Karen responded to James's message, trying to be supportive.
Starting point is 00:56:06 And she wrote, I'll come. We can just play the rest as it unfolded. I guess it's good since you were at work both times when she went to the ER. Maybe that takes some of the questions off of you. End quote. She said that she was trying to reassure and comfort him
Starting point is 00:56:22 because as far as she knew, he hadn't been there when Angela's episodes happened. When Karen arrived in Colorado, James drove her past what he said was his apartment complex, but he said the family would be staying there. They did not have a ton of time together, but they saw each other when they could. That night, they had dinner. They went back to her hotel room and spent several hours together, but they did not have sex. And then the next day, Karen said that there was a knock at the door.
Starting point is 00:56:50 It was the police. They told Karen that James had been arrested. She said that she knew that they probably didn't know the full story, that most people just didn't know about James and Angela getting a divorce. And she felt this overwhelming need to defend James. And then what happened? She had an interview with Detective Bobby Olson. Yes, Bobby Olson, who we have already heard from,
Starting point is 00:57:13 and she shared the text messages between them to Bobby Olson. She wanted them to know what she knew that James had told her he and Angela were living separately, that he had an apartment, that the divorce was real. She said that she was scared because the kids had just lost their mom and now their dad might be taken away too. She told investigators that she thought James was a good dad, that he couldn't have had any part in this. She told him that James said that Angela had been depressed,
Starting point is 00:57:41 that the divorce had been hard on her, that she even attempted self-harm in the past. In April, after James had been arrested, Karen started getting handwritten letters from jail. She testified that she wasn't even sure how James got her address, but somehow he did. And the first two letters, she burned them. She admitted it felt like a power move, like the only control she had left after everything she had just found out when James wrote her from jail.
Starting point is 00:58:09 Burned them. Because by then she knew she had read the affidavit. She saw the messages James had still been sending to Angela while Angela was sick. while he was talking to Karen about a future together, she realized their marriage wasn't really over. It never had been. She saw it all laid out in the affidavit. And after that, she was instructed, though,
Starting point is 00:58:35 to keep the letters, any letters that he wrote her from jail. Turn them over to law enforcement, and several of those letters were entered into evidence. And one James wrote, well, hello, I've decided that none of the letters I've sent out have been opened. Despite that, you've taken, so much real estate in my mind, dreams during the night. I still don't know what to write.
Starting point is 00:58:57 If I could tell you all the thoughts, it would take 10,000 pages. How can I pare down a feeling this big in a way that does it justice? That being said, I still feel tremendous pain. Isolation, loneliness, I miss you. I keep asking God if I should let you go or try to hold on to you just long enough to tell you my feelings. If I ever get out of here, even after trial, it will never change how I feel. I love you a thousand times more than I ever thought I could. I dream and long view every day. I don't know what you want, need, or expect,
Starting point is 00:59:30 but I will likely write you more often than I have been. Love JT." End quote. Let's be honest. Buying cannabis shouldn't be complicated, sketchy or low quality. That's why I want to tell you about mood.com. That's M-O-O-D.com. Mood ships federally legal cannabis straight to your door.
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Starting point is 01:00:17 and ready to elevate your mood. And because you're a listener, you get 20% off your first order. Just head to mood.com. That's M-O-O-O-D.com to get started. And so here's another letter that James or J-T sent to Karen from court. Here we go. The next one said, quote, Karen, you have ruined me in all of the best ways.
Starting point is 01:00:41 I will never meet someone like you. Since I met you, it's like I've been introduced to water for the first time. and I just want to drink and drink. Knowing you is a necessity. Loving you is like an oasis in the desert, end quote. And then he wrote a letter admitting to lying about the apartment. He said, quote, I should have just explained the arrangement because of the kids until the division of assets. I stretched the truth.
Starting point is 01:01:07 I'm so sorry. I don't know if you'll ever want to hear from me or not. I feel embarrassed. And if these letters have been shared with my enemies, know that I am so mortified. I hope to keep my feelings for you sacred, end quote. And now we are to cross-examination. So on cross-examination, attorney Moses asked Karen about how she felt intimidated to go to that dinner alone at the Belagio. From there, Moses walked her back through how it all began.
Starting point is 01:01:42 She wanted more details. How did she meet James Craig in Las Vegas? And so Karen started over once again with the defense. She and James had met that weekend at the conference, the dental conference. He struck up a conversation, which started as small talk, turned into hours of getting to know each other. The next day, they had lunch together. Then they went to the evening entertainment event.
Starting point is 01:02:06 Dinner followed, and by the end of the night, they were making out in her hotel room. But Karen was clear about her boundaries, physically. intimacy for her was reserved for a committed long-term relationship. She made sure that James knew that and he did not push her boundaries. The next day, they shared a cab to the airport and what had started as a chance encounter was already turning into something that felt serious. Moses pointed out something Karen already knew deep down. James knew exactly what to say to make her feel good. He made her feel seen. Focused on her. Told her how amazing. amazing she was. And Karen agreed. Karen agreed with the defense on this. It's true. They texted
Starting point is 01:02:51 constantly. She knew he was using a Google number so that his kids wouldn't stumble on their messages. She felt like James understood her in a way her ex-husband never had. He was encouraging. He was attentive and made her feel special. Then the defense started filling in some gaps. They reminded the jury, this whole relationship, all this emotional intimacy was built almost entirely over the phone. In total, they had only spent about two days together in person, and Karen had no idea that James was still very much married. She didn't know he was sending a loving text to his wife, Angela,
Starting point is 01:03:27 while texting her at the same time. She didn't know he was messaging other women, too, and she definitely didn't know that while he was courting her in Las Vegas saying all the right things, James also, get this, had hired a prostitute. Yeah, yeah, this came out. The defense wasn't trying to paint James as a misunderstood romantic. They were making it clear. He knew what he was doing.
Starting point is 01:03:51 He knew he was lying to Karen. He was lying to Angela and to others. All will tell him carrying everything she wanted to hear. He hired a prostitute in Las Vegas. It was kind of strange to hear the defense talking about him like this. I'll be honest. Like usually they try to make their client seem like a good person, right? That's what the defense does.
Starting point is 01:04:10 But their motive for this line of questioning became obvious. The defense then turned to Karen's conversation with Detective Olson, asking her about the nature of her relationship with James, and Moses pointed out that when Karen spoke with investigators, she never said this was headed towards marriage. She didn't claim that they were exclusive. According to the defense, this wasn't some epic love story. This was two people who met, hit it off, and started talking. Yes, she booked a flight to see him again, but the way Moses framed it, it just wasn't that serious. just a connection, a spark, not a full-blown relationship. And on March 25th, Karen spoke with Detective Olson again, this time about the letters James had been sending from jail.
Starting point is 01:04:51 She told the detectives that there had been no real planning for the future together, no logistics, no talk about who would sell their practice, who would move, how any of this would actually work. They were states apart, and the defense was quick to jump on that. Moses pointed out the obvious Karen lived in Texas. She had her own dental practice there. She was proud of her business and her work. Her kids were rooted there.
Starting point is 01:05:15 James, on the other hand, lived in Denver. His practice, his children, his whole life was in Colorado, and still not a single conversation about someone relocating. To the defense, that said at all. This wasn't real. This wasn't a relationship heading towards a shared future. It was a fantasy, nothing more. Moses then shifted the focus to Karen's involvement in the media storm
Starting point is 01:05:38 surrounding the case. She had done a television interview not to chase attention, she said. That wasn't why, but because people online were throwing out these wild theories, even suggesting that she was the motive. And I get it. Karen deserved to share her own voice about what happened. There was no way that I'm the motive, she told the reporter. There was no plan for a future. We met on a Thursday. I left on Saturday. And then we just texted. She said that to another reporter. But Moses pressed harder. In your mind, Moses asked, this was going in a certain direction, she said, but in reality, he was playing a game with you, wasn't he? Moses asked her. Karen pushed back, quote, I don't know what you mean by playing a game with me, and quote.
Starting point is 01:06:27 Moses didn't let up. So Moses continues, quote, he told you a lot of things that weren't true, right? He was still married. He didn't tell you. He was still. He was still. still living with his wife. He didn't tell you things were actually going fine in his marriage. He told you what you wanted to hear, end quote. And after a long moment, Karen agreed. Moses honed in on the emotional whirlwind of those weeks between James and Karen. She said this, quote, Dr. Craig's a pretty good writer, isn't he? She asked. Karen agreed and said, he's excellent. Moses leaned in.
Starting point is 01:07:06 Would you agree that what happened between you two? This three-week stretch of text and calls was infatuation. Karen answered, yes. It was exciting, full of lust and desire, Moses asked. Karen, again, yes.
Starting point is 01:07:26 Moses continues. Made you feel like a silly high school girl? Karen, softly. Yes. And then Moses paused and then said, quote, all of those things, but it wasn't love, was it? Karen steadily replied, I disagree. On redirect, the prosecution pressed again, emphasizing a key point. And this is what they said, quote, a lot of what James told you wasn't true, correct? There were a lot of lies. Karen agreed. They followed up asking,
Starting point is 01:08:07 quote, could that include the claim that Angela tried to kill herself? And quote, and the defense, they immediately objected, arguing hearsay. And the judge, the judge once again sustained the objection. She sustains many objections that favor of the defense. She is fair. And then came questions from the jury, quote, did James ever tell you about any other extramarital? affairs he had had. And Karen answered, yes, he told me about one emotional affair and one physical
Starting point is 01:08:41 affair, but he did not share timelines or how long they lasted. And then they asked, did Dr. Craig tell you why they were getting divorced? And Karen said, yes, he said he felt alone in his marriage. And then they asked us, did he ever tell you he had drugged Angela before? No, never. And next up on the stand was Casey Bowhannon, a Colorado resident who was behind bars in March of 23 while in jail he met James Craig. Yeah, it's good. Casey knew James was a dentist and asked him, what are you in for? And I love this.
Starting point is 01:09:27 And James replied, M1. So at first, Casey, because this is a dentist and a white guy and just like this privileged, you know, dental guy, Casey thought that met misdemeanor one, since that's what Casey was also in for two. But then he found that James was actually facing murder one. And when Casey pressed him about the media reports that Angela had been poisoned with cyanide, James explained that she was very unhappy and had taken her own life using chemicals. James said Angela had taken the poison in a workout shake. Casey told James that even his own family wouldn't take his phone calls while he was in jail, let alone bail him out.
Starting point is 01:10:06 James offered to help Casey bail out if he would do one favor. Plant a handwritten journal supposedly written by Angela claiming she had self-harm and how difficult life had been at their home. James even drew a detailed map showing where the security cameras were around his house, gave him their door code, and told Casey exactly where to hide the journal, either in the garage or his pickup truck. Wow. But Casey didn't want any part of this. Even when James sweetened the deal, promising to give Casey dental work, he refused and flushed the maps down the toilet. Eventually, Casey reached out
Starting point is 01:10:47 to law enforcement with what he knew. He said it didn't bill right. He felt sick about it and knew he had to tell the truth. And at that point, the state had no further questions and court broke for the day. Court, of course, will pick back up tomorrow, starting with Casey's cross-exam with the defense. And I think it'll be a pretty wild cross-exam, if you ask me. And so, that is the full day of court. I, again, am in Idaho right now. I plan to give you a full report tomorrow from the Coburger sentencing as well as as bring you a full report on the James Craig trial. We will be covering it both tag teaming it as best we can. You know, these are all cases we covered this week.
Starting point is 01:11:50 We also have a daybell sentencing on Friday. And honestly, it's like, and I know that's about Stefan Stern's plea hearing. It's like every case hidden to crime has been covering is coming to this sort of head this week. And we are doing as much as we possibly can. And I just want to thank all of you for your support during this time while we continue to do our very rest, bringing you the hidden motives of unimaginable crimes and keeping you up to date on so many important pieces of these crimes that we have covered. And this trial of James Craig is one of them. and there are no cameras in the courtroom for you to watch and understand.
Starting point is 01:12:31 And so as media, I am trying my best to bring you these daily recaps. We appreciate all of you so much. And I will see you tomorrow, likely a few times. So hit that notification bell and we will see you. My justice, we serve. Before I switched to Wellfront, my APII was probably 0.1. Once I switched to Chit-ching with a Wellfront cash. account, earn up to 4.2% APY on your cash. I can trust. Wellfront is taking care of me. Make your money earn more. Get started at Wealthfront.com. Clients were paid $1,000 for their testimonials, creating a conflict of interest. Howcomes vary. 3.3%
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